A short synthesis of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) via allyl cyanide

4-Amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid was synthesized from allyl cyanide in four steps in an overall yield of 38%. Ultrasonically promoted epoxidation of allyl cyanide with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid giving oxiranylacetonitrile was used as a key step.     

Evaluation of a purge-and-trap injection system for capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of volatile selenium compounds in water

A method is presented for the selective determination of the volatile selenium species dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, using a commercially available purge-and-trap injection system coupled to capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The efficiency of the purging step was evaluated and the parameters affecting the purge and trap processes were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of volatile selenium compounds in lake water. Relative detection limits of 2ng/l for dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, corresponding to an absolute detection limit of 10 pg, were achieved.     

Sensitive stripping voltammetry of heavy metals by using a composite sensor based on a built-in bismuth precursor

A new graphite-epoxy composite electrode (GECE) containing Bi(NO(3))(3) as a built-in bismuth precursor for simultaneous and individual anodic stripping analysis of heavy trace metals like lead and cadmium is reported. The developed Bi(NO(3))(3)-GECE is compatible with bismuth film electrodes reported previously including the composite electrodes (Bi-GECE) recently reported by our group. Bi(NO(3))(3)-GECE displays the ability for the detection of both individual and simultaneous determination of heavy trace metals and exhibits well defined, reproducible and sharp stripping signals. The sensitive response is combined with the minimal toxicity of Bi(NO(3))(3). This novel sensor would be an appropriate alternative tool to sensors using bismuth in solution during their utilization in environmental quality monitoring as well as other applications.     

Micellar solutions of sulfobetaine surfactants in water-ethylene glycol mixtures: surface tension, fluorescence, spectroscopic, conductometric, and kinetic studies

Micellization in water-ethylene glycol (EG) N-dodecyl, N-tetradecyl, and N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (SB3-12, SB3-14, and SB3-16, respectively) micellar solutions, with the weight percent of EG changing within the range 0-40, was studied by means of surface tension measurements. Information about the influence of the added EG on the aggregation number of the sulfobetaine micelles and on the polarity of the interfacial region of micelles was obtained through fluorescence and spectroscopic measurements. Surface tension measurements also provide information about the dependence of the surface excess concentration, the minimum area per surfactant molecule, the surface pressure at the cmc, and the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption on the added weight percent of the organic solvent. The Gordon parameter of the water-EG mixtures was also estimated by means of surface tension measurements. The thermodynamic and structural changes originated by the presence of EG control the micellar kinetic effects observed in the reaction methyl 4-nitrobenzenesulfonate + Br(-) occurring in the water-EG sulfobetaine micellar solutions. Information about the distribution of bromide ions between the bulk and micellar pseudophases was obtained through conductivity measurements. The kinetic micellar effects were quantitatively explained by using the pseudophase kinetic model.     

Structural and electronic comparative analysis of aminopyridazines showing anti-GABA activity. Crystal structure of 2-(carboxy-3′-propyl)-3-amino-6-cyclohexylpyridazinium bromide.Ab initio Mulliken population analysis of the 6-phenyl-substituted analog compared to GABA

The crystal structure of 2-(carboxy-3-propyl)-3-amino-6-cyclohexylpyridazinium bromide has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques and refined by full-matrix least squares. The compound crystallized in the tri-clinic space groupP ¯1 witha=10.275(1),b=11.215(1),c=7.082(1) Å,=91.84(1),=102.21(1), =106.77(1)°, andZ=2. FinalR-factor is 0.045. The main structural results are very similar to the ones observed for the 6-phenyl analog. These two compounds are GABA-A antagonists.Ab initio molecular orbital calculations, with STO-3G and 4-31G basis sets, suggest that the exocyclic nitrogen accurately mimics the nitrogen atom of GABA.     

Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development

Tissue engineering offers the potential of providing vessels that can be used to replace diseased and damaged native blood vessels. The endothelization of a synthetic vascular graft minimizes the failures associated with blood clotting and platelet activation. The aim of this study was to culture vascular-derived endothelial and smooth muscle cells on both untreated and NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) films, a biocompatible and bio-resorbable polymer, and to evaluate the behavior of both cell types as a preliminary study for vascular graft development. PCL films were prepared by hot pressing; characterized by DSC, IR, SEM, and scanning force microscopy; and treated with NaOH to increase the surface hydrophilicity before cell culture. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells, isolated from pig cava vein, were characterized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Good adhesion, growth, viability and morphology of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells on PCL films were obtained, but a light stimulation of mitochondrial activity was observed during short culture times. NaOH treatment improved the adhesion and enhanced the proliferation in both cell types. This verified the possible use of this modified polymer as a support in the preparation of a synthetic vascular graft. [Diagram: see text] SEM micrograph of smooth muscle cells cultured on NaOH-treated PCL film. (Original magnification: 1000x).     

Reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes catalyzed by electrophilic late transition metal chlorides

The intramolecular reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes proceeds catalytically in the presence of Pt(II), Pd(II), Ru(II), and Au(III) chlorides. Although more limited, AgOTf also catalyzes the cyclization. Usually, PtCl2 as the catalyst in methanol or acetone gives the best results. The reaction proceeds by exo attack of the allyl nucleophile on the alkyne to form five- or six-membered ring carbocycles. The reaction generally proceeds with anti stereoselectivity. However, a terminally substituted trimethylsilyl derivative reacts by a syn-type addition. The intermediate alkenylpalladium complex has been trapped with allyl chloride to form an allylated derivative with an additional carbon-carbon bond.     

Potentiometric investigation of the stability of silver(I) complexes of some N-methyl substituted 4-H-diethylenetriamines in aqueous solution

By means of potentiometric pH and pAg measurements, the stability constants and the stoichiometric composition of the silver(I) complexes of some N-methyl-substituted 4-H-diethylenetriamines, in aqueous medium of ionic strength 1.3 and at a temperature of 25.00 degrees , have been determined. In addition to mononuclear and polynuclear complexes, together with their protonated forms, some hydroxo complexes are formed. The values of the stability constants are discussed in terms of possible structures.     

Ethanol/water pulp enzymatic pretreatment: Chemical and FTIR-PCA analyses

Pulps obtained from ethanol/water cooking of sugarcane bagasse were treated at different times using xylanase enzyme obtained from Thermomyces lanuginosus IOC-4145 or commercially (Cartazyme HS, Sandoz Products Ltd.). The enzyme dosage was 18 IU per g of dry pulp and the time varied from 4 h to 12 h. When xylanase from T. lanuginosus was used, the kappa number and viscosity improved independently of the processing time used (4 h, 8 h, and 12 h). After chemical evaluation, the obtained pulps were classified using Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis. The results showed that the first three principal components explained more than 90 % of the total variance of the pulp spectra.     

Fixed-bed adsorption of carbon dioxide/methane mixtures on silicalite pellets

The adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane on silicalite pellets packed on a fixed bed has been studied. Equilibrium and kinetic measurements of the adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane have been performed, and a binary adsorption isotherm for carbon dioxide/methane mixtures has been obtained. A model based on the LDF approximation for the mass transfer has been used to describe the breakthrough curves obtained experimentally. A PSA cycle has been proposed for obtaining methane with purity higher than 98% from carbon dioxide/methane mixtures containing 38% and 50% methane, and its performance has been simulated using the proposed model. The simulation results show that silicalite can be a suitable adsorbent for employment in a PSA separation process for carbon dioxide removal from coalseam and landfill gases.